On Nov. 28, the Campus Safety Department began strict enforcement of the parking permit regulations.

“We look to see if (the car) has a permit on the car dash or mirror,” said campus safety officer Laura Vellasquez. “If they don’t, they get cited. It’s a $20 citation.”

The enforcement of the parking permit regulations began very late this year.

Normally, permits are required at the start of each semester.

“When I took over, there were a lot of things I had to do,” said Director of Campus Safety and Transportation Michael Nunez.

“I tried to catch up with the parking permits before the semester started,” he said, adding, “Because of the changes I decided to wait.”

Recent campus renovation also provided a problem for the parking situation.

“The First Street parking lot was taken up by the construction company,” Nunez said.

Even though the parking permit requirement was not being enforced, some parking regulations have been continuously enforced, Nunez said.

Citations are regularly given out for parking in handicapped spots, red curbs and 20-minute parking.

Additionally, many Old Town La Verne merchants have been complaining that students have been parking on D Street and Third Street for much longer than the two hour limits posted, as well as in the lots off of Third
Street directly behind the merchants.

These spots are intended for the merchants’ customers.

Nunez said he is aware that the campus center construction has reduced the number of on-campus parking spots, but added that students still should not park in areas that are time-limited or that require city permits.

Doing so places increased pressure on the police to issue citations, Nunez said.

?Still some students said they are upset that it took so long for permits to be required this semester.

“I don’t understand why it took so long for them to start (enforcing the permits),” said senior education major Kelley Silagyi.

“I think it is unfair that they are starting it now…Next year they should be ready when they are supposed to be,” she added.

Other students, however, don’t mind the delay.

“I suppose in a way it’s a good thing that they are starting to enforce it now,” said freshman art major Christopher Arce. “Before, they had some excuses, but now that the construction is done and everything, there isn’t any reason for students to park where they shouldn’t… A lot of commuters are going to be a lot more cautious about where they park now.”